15 career tips

If you don’t know what you are looking for, it is harder to find something and you can eventually get lost in the search. Choose a professional field! Which industries are you interested in? Which role/position appeals to you?

Read job advertisements, find out what the requirements are and try to align them with your skills!

Your outfit has a great influence on how comfortable you feel and how others feel about you. For example, if you apply for a job at a bank or a consulting company you should wear a suit with a tie or a pantsuit. In other industries, a blazer and pants are sufficient

Your outfit should be appropriate for the position, the specific employer and for the industry. Also, you should feel comfortable in your clothes during the interview!

In which areas did you perform well? What was easy for you to do? Where did you have difficulties? Which tasks did not mean much to you? Why are you good at what you do?

Answer questions honestly and think about your talents and strengths. Think about what would be important for the company you applied for!

Invest enough time in an thorough and interesting CV. The more structured your CV is, the more pleasant/enjoyable it is to read. There is no second chance for the first impression.

Your CV should answer all questions regarding your knowledge, qualifications and experience and should be authentic!

Prepare the same way for an online job interview as for an interview in person. Pay attention to your dress code, your manners and your body language. Also, make sure your technical equipment runs flawlessly (camera, audio, lighting) and you have a stable internet connection

Practice the video interview in advance!

One should be able to quickly find all relevant information regarding your skills, competences, experience and motivation through your CV. Try to step into the shoes of someone else and make sure you meet the job requirements/ the job profile.

Format your CV well, and try not to make it longer than 2 pages. That way your potential employer will have a quick and good overview about your profile!

First practical experiences are a good way to find out what you would like to do professionally. It doesn’t matter if it is a voluntary or a mandatory internship or an internship abroad, you will make progress/improve yourself professionally and personally and possibly learn a new foreign language. The semester break is ideal to do this.

Think about writing your theses in collaboration with a company. Many companies offer such a possibility for students!

Career fairs, an event like the Long Night of Careers, conferences, webinars, web cast events or career lunches are ideal occasions to get informed about potential employers. Graduates can approach the representatives of the potential employer companies directly and receive first hand information about job offers.

Look at company websites or read the CSC event calendar!

Profit from other people’s experience and  get access to career opportunities. Although networking requires some intuition and flair it pays off as often vacancies are not advertised publicly. Therefore, use networking events and trust yourself to reach to out to people.

Connect via Xing or LinkedIn afterwards!

In the beginning of the interview, you will be often asked to do a self-presentation. It will help the interviewer to get a first impression of you. Try to present yourself in a short and to-the-point manner, and give convincing answers.

No false modesty!

In your cover letter you should emphasize your motivation for the position. Try to make clear why you want this position and why you are the right candidate. Convince them with your skills and competencies.

Make sure to write an interesting introduction, a meaningful main part, and an appropriate final formula!

Employment reference letters play an important role in your application and can give you a head start. Your behavior and performance should be described in a fair way. Request an employment reference letter not an employment confirmation.

The more customized the reference letter, the more appreciation there was!

Many well known companies prefer online forms for the application process. Make sure to upload all your relevant documents. Try to avoid slips of pen and overly large file attachments.

Properly maintain your data if you apply via a registration portal for candidates!

In a Skype or telephone interview the same aspects apply as for a personal interview. Additionally, you should be aware of some specifcs. To keep in contact with the interviewer, look into the camera not the screen. Make sure you have a neutral background. Test your computer and internet in advance, it should be running flawlessly during your interview.

Make sure your Skype user name is suitabel for professional purposes!

Through a follow-up after the interview you emphazise your sustained interest in the position. You should wait 6 – 10 days until after the interview – depending on the size of the company. The larger the company, the longer you should wait. Point out your interest and motivation again and ask about next steps in the application process.

Connect via Xing or LinkedIn afterwards!